Keen photographers are being urged to help monitor changes to the landscape at nature reserves across the council’s parks and nature reserves next week.

Several ‘fixed point photography’ posts have been built at special locations and people are being encouraged to take photos on their mobiles and share them with the Council.

So far Test Valley Borough Council has installed FFP cameras at Abbotswood, Anton Lakes, Bury Hill Meadows, Harewood Common, Ladies Walk, OxDrove, Rooksbury Mill and Mill Lane Meadows.

(Image: Test Valley Borough Council)

In the next few months cameras are planned at Valley Park, Tadburn, and Charlton Lakes.

Cabinet member for Climate Emergency and Countryside, Councillor Alison Johnston said: “The introduction of Fixed-Point Photography across key sites in the borough represents an innovative and collaborative approach to environmental conservation.  

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“By involving the public in monitoring landscape changes, the Council aims to gain valuable insights into the ecological shifts occurring in these vital habitats.  

“The data gathered will play a crucial role in the ongoing management and preservation of these natural spaces, helping to ensure that they are protected for future generations.” 

New signage at each location will ask visitors to place their smartphone in the cradle and take a photo. By sharing these photos with the council hope to create a time lapse of changes to the environment in each area. This information will then be used to help better management of the council’s countryside spaces.